Track laying tractor



G. W. PEEK. l 4 13h04( LAYING TBACTUR. ir 1927 lnrrwlLlmlUrllfu minM1124. mib j Piume@ 061x521) Y 'i2 glans-mi ai" i .wvfwrk y mw. Preis asa stationary source of UNITED sTATEs PATENT -oEEioE i Y Vemanen w. rmx,or sur Merece, curromrm' i Spelciiloation o! Letters Patent.

Application illed April 24, 191B. Serial No. 830,403.

cisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Track- Laying Tractors, a s ecificaton.

he present invention relates to improvenents in track-laying tractors. v

The object of the invention is to rovide a track-laying tractor of a lowdra type in which the track-laying frames will not spread from, or crowdon, the main frame, while vthe machine is being turned; in which themotor-supportin frame will be-firmly yet flexibly connecte with thetrack-laying frames; which will-have an improved construction of treadframes' in which the tread will be composed of links having interlockingparts and which can be easily detached from each other; tain improvedsteering mechanism and draft mechanism, so arranged that a direct pullis-obtained upon the traveling implements orvehicle drawn b the tractor;which will be light in weig t, and in which the weight will be.distributed so as to ailord a maximum pulling power; which will 4besimple, perfectly balanced, and easily con-l rol ed; which can be' used,when. desired, power andV in which, when so used, the motor-supportingframe will be rigidly connected to the tracklaying frames; and whichwill have im proved means for transmitting the power rom the engine tothe endless treads.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view o the tractor, theupper .portions being removed, the arts being shown in horizontalsection, and a pulley at the front end thereof being broken-away; Fig. 2is a perspective view thereof looking from the iront; Fig. 3 is anenlarged broken side 'view of a tread frame; Fig. 4 is a. broken tofpplan view of a shaft at.the front end o the tractor, 'a 4pulley thereonboing shown 'in section; Fig. 5 is 'a view from the 'inner side of aportonofatread chain., Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the same. lig. is

a side view of draw-bar as attached to the lrear end of` the motorsupporting frame,

showing particularly the resiliently sup,- porting means thus permittingthe draw pull to betransmitted to the `draw-bar with 'dinaIlly,entendingchannel irons Broom-lated' of which the following is which will con-Reerring lto the drawin ,l1 Aindicates tread frames, one on each si e ofa tractor frame 2. Eac tread frame comprises 1ongitud' all tendingchannel irons 3 approxi ate of a length to equal the length of the mor-supporting1 frame, connected at their front ends by e annel Irons 4and at their rear ends by a bearin 6 fon a shaft 7. At suitable`intervals t ere are sufpported by said channel irons bearings 8 or twotransverse shafts 9 and two transverse shafts 11, the shafts 9 and 11alternating with each other, the shafts 9 carrying driving sprocketwheels 12, and the shafts 11 carrying idler grooved wheels 13, theperipheres of the sprocket wheels being re ceived in the grooves ofthewheels 13. For the purpose of tightening an endless chain around saidwheels the bearing for the shaft of the outside idler wheel is madeadjustable, and is means of a screw 14 screwed through a lug 15 dependinfrom a hannel iron 3' forming part of the rame 1. j V p Engaging thesprocket wheels of each tread frame is a sprocket chain 16 composed oflinks 17 havin side4 members 18, the side members of a jacent linksbeing held in place by bolts 19..and s aoed from-each other by bushings20. Ro ers 21 surround said bushings. Said links are bent outward attheir outer edges to form ianges 22 to which shoes 24 are riveted, asshown at 23. Riveted, as shown at 25, to said shoes are members 26 oftransversely extendin angle irons 27, the other members of whic' extendoutward from said shoes.\ One end Vof each shoe is bent outwardly, asshown traction grips 31. Also riveted to the inner. sides of said shoesare members 32, in planes parallel with the shafts 9, 11, oflongitudinally extendin angle irons 33, the other members of' whicharein planes at rghtanheld in its adjustedpo'sition by- Patented Oct. 21191 9.

.shown atv 29, are transversely extendinggies to'V the Vperspectiveshoes, and extend `lntu the grooves of -the QQVE/d wheelsto f ormguidesv for the; `chainsv around' the wheels.`

Tlie-xt1`"actor frame comprises longitndiat their ends to channel irons35 and also connected transversely by a channel iron 36 and an angleiron 37. Secured to the inner sides of the channel irons 34 near theirrear channel iron 34 are rearwardly extending brackets 41 carryinbearings 45 for the shaft 7. By the sh t 7 the rear end of the tractorframe is pivotallysupported upon the tread frames. From the brackets 41depend screw-eyes 42 to which are attached the upper ends of coiledsprings 48, the lower endsl of which are attached to the sides of thedraw-bar.

To the central portion of the front transverse channel iron 35 isattached 'by U-bolts 44 a. bracket 46 having a bearing 47 for a shaft48, and also attached b said U-bolts 44 is a carriage spring 49. T eends of the carriage spring are looped around pins 51 which depend fromloops 52, the'upper ends of which are suspended from ins 53 extcndinfrom the channel irons and carryv ing rol ers 54. Said rollers 54 extendinto vertically directed 'slots 56 in vertically extending portions 57of elbow plates 58, horizontal portions 59v of which extend outward fromthe channel irons 34, their inner 'ends being bent at riht angles andsecured, as shown a't 61, tot nel irons. In order to guide the platesvertically in their vibration there are secured to the channel irons 4additional pins 62 which carry rollers 63 ,rolling in the slots 56.

The tractor frame carries on its rear portion an engine 64,approximately in the center, a transmission 65, and a driving shaft 66',which carries at its front end a bevel pinion 67 meshing with a bevelgear 68 secured to a triignsverse shaft 69. Said transverse shaft hassecuredadjacent to each end pinions 70 each of which meshes with pinions'(1 on shafts 72 secured to a brake wheel 73 having a hub 74 looselysurrounding the shaft 69 and around which is a brake band 76. Thepinions l71 mesh with internal gear teeth 77 on a wheel 78, pinned, asshown' at 79, to a shaft 81 journaled in sleeve 86 which carries asprocket wheel 82.V

Around said sprocket wheel 82 travel sprocket chains 83 which alsotravel around sprocket wheels 84 on the shafts 9 of thercar drivingsprocket wheels 12 in the-respective I tread frames. Y

The tractor can be steeredin any direction desired b releasing one orthe other of the wheels 73V l braking levers (not shown) of the usualconstruction.

.The shaft 48 carries a pulley 87, and, i the ordin operation of thetractor, is disconntil m the driving lshaft 66, but

e front ends of said chan? by means of separately actuated may beoperatively connected thereto, when it is desired to derive powerfromthe engine of the tractor for operating machinery other than that of thetractor, by means of a pinion 88 carriedon its rear end, which, by meansof a clutch 89 of ordinary construction may be caused to mesh with thebevel gear 68 on the shaft 69.

To the vertical member of each elbo plate is secured by 1u 91, screwedinto saida plate on opposite si es of the vertical slot therein, a bar92, through the center of which-can be screwed a setl screw 93, whichcan extend throu 'h the slot and bear against the front end of the treadframe, to hold said tractor frame rigid with reference to the treadframes -when it is desired to use the pulley 87.

I claims- 1. In a tractor, the combination of a pair of traction beltframes, a main frame -pivotally connected to said belt frames, means forpermitting relative vertical movement of the main frame and the beltframes and for preventing relative lateral movement thereof comprlsinfor each belt frame an elbow extension-p ate secured to the main frameand having a vertical slot in an arm thereof, a pin on the belt frameprojecting into said slot and guided thereby.

2. In a tractor, the combination of a pair oi" traction belt frames, amain frame pivctally supported on the belt frames, means for permittingrelative vertical movement of the main frame and the belt frames andfor-k preventing relative lateral movement there- 4o1" comprising foreach belt frame a lateral extension projecting from the main frame andhaving a vertical slot therein, a pin on ihe belt frame projecting intosaid slot to be guided by the latter, and. a cushion means secured tothe main frame and to said pin.

3. In a tractor, the combination of a pair ol*y traction belt frames, amain frame pivotally supported on the belt. frames, means forpermittingr relative vertical movement of the main frame and the beltframes and for preventingr relative lateral movement lateral extensionprojecting from the main frame and havin a vertical. slot therein, meanson the belt grama projecting into said slot and guided thereby, andlocking means between said extension and belt frame for lpreventingrelative movement between the .elt and main frames'.

4. In a'tractor, the combination of a pair of 'tractionbelt frames amain frame pivotally connected to belt frames, means for permittingrelative vertical movement of the main frame 'and the belt frames andfor preventing relative 'lateral movement 4thereof comprising forY eachbelt frame a 4 thereof'compmsln vfor leach .belt frame an'elbowextension p ate secured toth'maim frame and having a vertical slotin an arm i e f 1,319,242' i B .nient between the belt ail-.f Inainframes.

5. In a tractor, thefeom binationof a. pair of traction belt frames, a.main frame pivotally supported on the ielt frames, means for permittingrelative main -frame and the belt frames and for preventing relativelateral movement thereof comprising foreach belt frame alateral ex'tension projecting from the mainframe and having a vertical slottherein, a pinLon the belt frame projecting intosaid slot and idedthereby, a link-member loose on the pin and suspended therefrom, aleafspring secured to the main frame and havingr the end )ortions thereofeach secured to one ofsaid link members' of the respective belt frames.

6. In a, tractor, a pair of traction belt frames, a main 'frame havingsupporting, connections with-the belt frames, one of said connections:comprising 'a .shaft extendedlthrough alined bearings in said belt andmainframes, a belt driving means on each beltframe 1n advance of Vsaidvshaft, a traction belt in each of said .respective frames and loopin rsaid driving means and also in advance o rsaid sha-ft, means on themainframe for actuating Said belt.

[7.11: 'a tracton, a pair of traction bolt tramesa main frameliai-ingsnpporting connections with the belt frames, one of saidconnections 'comprising a shaft extended throng-h .alined .bearings inAsaid belt and main fnunes, a belt driving means on each belt frame inadvance of said shaft, a traction belt in each of said .respectiveframes and loopin'r said `driving means and' also in advance o saidshaft, means on the main frame for actuating said belththeothcr of saidconnectionsl comprising means resilicntly connecting the main and beltframes. 8. In combination a main `iframe, a motor. supported ther-cimatransverse shaft rotated by ysaid niotor,4 tread frames onenn each sideof themain dframe, traction belts in the tread frames, means wherebysaid beltssn f 'pt illey on-.saidsha .,connecting'the main-.fulano with:the tread pont said'frame, n shaft extending from t e f front end`ofsaid main fran-ie, means where'- by said shaft/can bel rotated by themotor, a, andmeansfor rigidly frame,gwhen. desirod. z g. 9. In arwheelsubstitute, aframe,a plurality of load supporting VWheels mounted in thetrame and all ofthe same diameter. the

treads' ofv every' other Wheelbeing@v 'divided to receive andaccommodate thevadjecnt wheel over-lapping the same, the e0m'bi'l1'ntion with a traction Vbelt looping aronnd and.

and engageable wit 1 vertical movement ofthe 1 snpimrted'by all .saidWheel:`V and com )used of llnkcd sections. the periplmries o saidover-lapping;r adjacent wheels being notched Vto receive the linkconnection of the belt,'and a drive when! on .said frame engagingsaidbelt.

'10. ln u )vbcolsubstitute, a frame, a cries of load supporting wheelsmounted ou said frame. and brim.r all of the .same diameter and havingtheir axes in horizontal alinelnent, the psfriplurics:4 ot' every otherwheel being divided to receive and accommodate the adjacent wheelover-lappingr the same for a distance. substantially equal to itsradins. the combination with a traction. belt. supported by andloopingsaiil wheels, and com posed 4of a series ot' linked sections,said adjacentover-lapping' wheels of .said series` having notchedperipheries to receive the linked connectionsl of said belt, and :ldrive sproekethaving' the same diameter of said Supportin wheels and,mounted on thil frame at`an en of said series of wheels, saidSprocket-having its 'toothed portion engaginf;r the linked connectionsof said belt.

11. In a wheel substitute, a fran 1c .al1'o1i '/.ontal series of loadsnpportinp` wheels mounted in the frame and all of the Same diameter.the periplicries of every other n heel beingdivided to receive and accommodato tht-.adjacent 'wheel over-lapping tbe same. th(I combination witha traf-,tion belt looping' around 'and supported by all of said wheelsand com )osed of linked sections, the peripheries otlsaidover-lappingadiacent wheels being notched to receive the linkconnections of the belt, and a drive Wheel on said frame engaging thebelt, an end wheel of said series being horizontally adjustable on saidframe.

12. 'In a wheel substitute, a frame, a series of load supiorting wheelsmounted on said frame and eing all ofthe saine diameter and' havingtheir axes in horizontal alinement, tbe troadsof every other wheel beingdivided to receive and accommodate -the adjace-nt wheel over-lapping thesame for a. distance substantially equal toits radius, the combinationwith a traction belt supported by and looping said wheels and composedof a series of linkedseetions, said belt having spaced pathways for thedivided tread -wh'eels and havingr the link connections disposed betweensaid pathways, said adjacent" over-lapping wheels of said series 'havingnotched peripheries to receive Vthe linked connections of said belt, anda drive sprocket inmmtel on the frame -at an end of said series ofwheels, said sprocket having its toothed portion engaging the linkedconnec tions of said. belt.

` f G. W. PEEK.

